Meningitis/ health anxiety.

[strugglingmomx]

I have major health anxiety surrounding my child. I keep it under wraps very well but it often consumes me.

My little boy has been complaining about neck pain for a couple of days now and told me he feels like he's slept funny.

I thought it was better but when I washed his hair today he cried putting his head back, so it's obviously still tender.

He's completely ok in himself, no temperature or anything but tonight after dinner he was randomly sick?

Didn't bother him much, in fact he asked for a snack afterwards and argued with me about bedtime

But now I'm watching him sleep worrying about the signs of meningitis and the fact that he's got stiff neck + sickness is sending me into a bit of a panic mode.

Would he be showing signs of illness? Or could meningitis present with just these two symptoms?

My partner and my mother have both {gently} told me I'm being silly. But can't stop thinking about the stiff neck as I know that's a big sign.

We've been through quite a lot of trauma together (he had his leg amputated a couple of years ago due to a birth defect so it heightened my anxiety a lot) I'm struggling to rationalise. Thoughts? 😔

Poor you. Anxiety is awful. He sounds well in himself. If he was ill he would’ve had other symptoms.

I agree with the above poster that he likely would show more signs and I also totally understand that horrible feeling of worry.

Really it would be more than a stiff neck, and he would have deteriorated further too.

One test I was told was to get them to kiss their knee. They can't move the neck that far to do it with meningitis.
But you'd be also getting a noticeable reaction to the light-that's daylight not a bright light shone straight at him.

Thank you for the reassurance. Feel a bit silly now, but I feel like worries always feel so much worse when you're lying in the dark at night with your mind racing! Seems like he just has a bit of a cough/cold coming on but will keep an eye. Thanks!

I hate a random vomit as well!! Agree with others-the rest is to bend their head down and if it really hurts it’s a not so great sign. Sounds like a random virus of which there are plenty.

Bless you you’ve been through a lot so it’s natural you’ll worry a bit more. I agree with previous posters, but felt more compelled to reply to your message to say what a warrior mum I think you are. Huge respect x

ah poor you. I have terrible health anxiety as well. Had many random vomiting episodes and various weird pains that have come to nothing. I’m always awake turning over the various scenarios and torturing myself though so completely sympathise. I’m sure he’d be worse than this if he had meningitis.

Hopefully he is just a bit off colour obviously I’m not a dr so can’t say for sure. My son had bacterial meningitis and he was seriously ill it’s a miracle he’s here. He didn’t have a rash but he had horrendous headache where he was screaming in pain, high temp, seizures, he couldn’t stand the light and was continuously vomiting, he couldn’t turn his neck, he got it from sinusitis he was very ill very quickly

That's so lovely. Thank you 🥰

My 5 year is currently in hospital with Pneumococcal meningitis. Very scary, he got very ill very quickly. Can i ask how your childs recovery went? At the minute my child only responds to pain. He has been getting antibiotics for 4 days now and i was hoping to see him a bit brighter.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

I hope everyone has full recovery

Hi so sorry to hear about your son. My little one didn't end up having meningitis at all

My son had bacterial meningitis- although only 8 weeks old so presented a little differently. But he went downhill in a matter of 4 hours from fine to being resuscitated. He’s recovered well but I totally understand your health anxiety I’m now paranoid at the slightest temperature and I barely sleep. Health anxiety around your children is debilitating

I’m so sorry to hear about your son, my son was 8 weeks when he had GBs meningitis. I it was about 8 days of treatment before he was responsive enough to feed orally rather than via a tube/iv. We were in hospital for a month. I hope your son makes a good recovery

Thank you for your response. Think im expecting too much too soon. Its just very hard. Im glad everything is ok with you now and may it continue that way!!